Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Midwest Living Review

Kendra L. Williams

One of only two zoos in the country with children in its title, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo has designed the whole experience so little ones can see it all without being lifted up.

In 2009, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened its African Journey habitat and saw attendance spike from an average of 500,000 visitors a year to an all-time high of 614,000. (The zoo opens for the season in late April and remains open through the fall.) What's cool about this habitat's design is that the humans are the ones who feel like they are in glass cages, looking out at animals who appear to be roaming free. (Takes away some of that zoo guilt we can't help but feel, no matter how cool the habitat.) You'll see lions, hyenas, wildebeest and zebras. Plus, you can cruise through the giraffe feeding station, where you can give lettuce leaves to eager giraffes from an overlook built at giraffe-head height. There's also a sky glide-type ride, boat rides, train rides and camel rides, plus tents with African drums and kid-size furniture in them.Other habitats at the zoo include an Indonesian Rainforest and an Australian Adventure, plus places to gaze at zoo babies. More than 150 kinds of animals live here; you need at least half a day to see it all.